But Adams admitted he was almost a busted flush on his favourite stage, saying: “I was glad to get it done and dusted because it was getting warm on that stage.

“I was getting a hot flush and, for some reason, the darts never come out of the hand so well when that happens.

“I was happy to get the job done and now I need a rest because the first round took a lot out of me – I was like a zombie afterwards.

“It wasn't a case of me trying to get revenge for last year, but Jeff beat me here 12 months ago and I didn't want to let it happen again.”

Adams was treated for prostate cancer last year but after an intensive course of radiotherapy doctors have given him “the nearest thing to all-clear as you can get.”

And the Lakeside erupted when 'Wolfie' nailed the madhouse – double one – to topple last year's beaten finalist.

He added: “To win another world title would be emotional and extra-special after what happened to me last year, but I'm not looking too far down the road because there's no such thing as an easy quarter-final.”